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Pain management for post-treatment survivors of complex cancers: a qualitative study of opioids and cannabis

    Talya Salz

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: salzt@mskcc.org

    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, New York, NY 10017, USA

    ,
    Susan Chimonas

    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, New York, NY 10017, USA

    ,
    Sankeerth Jinna

    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, New York, NY 10017, USA

    ,
    Jessica Brens

    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Advanced Practice Providers, New York, NY 10065, USA

    ,
    Anuja Kriplani

    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA

    ,
    Andrew Salner

    Hartford Hospital, Department of Radiation Oncology, Hartford, CT 06106, USA

    ,
    Guilherme Rabinowits

    Moffit Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, Tampa, FL 33612, USA

    ,
    Beatriz Currier

    Miami Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine, Miami, FL 33176, USA

    ,
    Bobby Daly

    Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA

    &
    Deborah Korenstein

    Mount Sinai Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, New York, NY 10001, USA

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/pmt-2023-0067

    Aim: We aimed to understand experiences with opioids and cannabis for post-treatment cancer survivors. Patients & methods: We conducted seven focus groups among head and neck and lung cancer survivors, using standard qualitative methodology to explore themes around 1) post-treatment pain and 2) utilization, perceived benefits and perceived harms of cannabis and opioids. Results & conclusion: Survivors (N = 25) experienced addiction fears, stigma and access challenges for both products. Opioids were often perceived as critical for severe pain. Cannabis reduced pain and anxiety for many survivors, suggesting that anxiety screening, as recommended in guidelines, would improve traditional pain assessment. Opioids and cannabis present complex harms and benefits for post-treatment survivors who must balance pain management and minimizing side effects.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: •• of considerable interest

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